Patent · US Active

Method for shrinking openings in forming integrated circuits

US10867842B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
42References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 2018
Grant dateDec 15, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D84/0158
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method includes forming a first hard mask layer and a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer, and forming a tri-layer including a bottom layer, a middle layer, and a patterned upper layer. The method further includes etching the middle layer to extend an opening in the patterned upper layer into the middle layer, wherein the opening has a first portion in the middle layer, and the first portion has a first top width and a first bottom width smaller than the first top width; etching the bottom layer to extend the opening into the bottom layer; and etching the second hard mask layer to extend the opening into the second hard mask layer. The opening has a second portion in the second hard mask layer, and the second portion has a second top width and a second bottom width smaller than the second top width.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.